No matter how much he may revel in extraordinary partner sex, every man likes to occasionally (or more than occasionally) spend a little time engaging in solo masturbation - often to the point of acquiring a rather sore penis. Every man's masturbation needs and desires are different, of course; some men go for months between tugging sessions; others are frequent fondlers who indulge several times a day. Most men have at least once or twice engaged in a real masturbation marathon, in which they manhandle themselves for an extended period of time lasting several hours. This practice is undeniably entertaining, but it does require careful penis care to avoid a monumentally sore manhood.

It's healthy.

Although masturbation's reputation has been enhanced in recent years, as people have become more open about discussing sexual topics, many men still have some negative feelings about masturbation. While there are some men who may take masturbation to an extreme and develop an addiction to it, this is fairly rare; for the vast majority of men, masturbation is a normal, healthy activity which releases tension, relieves stress, improves mood, provides experience in learning about their own bodies, and helps many men gain greater control over ejaculating during partner sex.

That said, men do need to take steps to ensure that they don't end up with a raw or sore penis, especially if they are engaging in a lengthy masturbation marathon. Among these tips are:

- Lubricate, lubricate, lubricate. A "dry" masturbation session can cause a tremendous amount of soreness and can literally rub the skin raw. Not only is this painful, but it can make the penis look off-putting to partners. While the penis naturally produces a bit of lubricant, a man is well advised to supplement this with a personal lube and to use it from the start. When involved in a particularly lengthy masturbation session, it may be necessary to re-apply the lubricant several times.

- Shift gears. If going for a true marathon session lasting an hour or more, a man needs to pace himself. Some men tend to masturbate by focusing almost exclusively on the glans; if planning on an extended fondle, it's best to vary this and work on other parts of the penis, as well. Otherwise, the glans may become raw early on.

- Expand exploration. Many men like to masturbate solely by handling their penises; when going for a long distance turn, it can help to explore other areas: the testicles, the anus, the nipples or anywhere else. Erogenous zones are sometimes found in places (such as the back of the knees) that many guys wouldn't think to try. By moving beyond just the member, a guy can help decrease potential soreness of the organ, as well as learn more about his own body.

- Loosen the grip. Because tight feels so good, a man often puts a hammerlock hold on his penis while stroking - an invitation to soreness over the long haul. Guys should try varying the grip and should also explore rubbing other soft materials (such as scarves or very soft cloths) over and around the penis.

Even with proper care, a marathon masturbator (or even the occasional wanker) can still end up with a sore penis, so it's crucial that he regularly use a high quality penis health cream(health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) that packs a definite wallop in the moisturizing department in order to effectively soothe the tool. It's vital that the cream include a combination of a high end emollient (such as Shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E) in order to re-moisturize the raw member. Men should also look for a cream that includes a powerful antioxidant (such as alpha lipoic acid), as this can help offset the harmful oxidative processes in penis cells that give the tool that aged, wrinkly look.